Clinton Square was one of the first places I saw in Syracuse—orientation took us there back when I was a freshman. I was struck by the beauty of the fountain, and the older, almost Romanesque buildings that surround it. It's a real treat to enter a new place and find yourself surrounded by American history.

The haiku's image of the narrator getting soaked by the fountain while a viewer stands idly made me think of someone dancing. I wanted to illustrate a scene from a more successful time in Syracuse's history—perhaps inspired by those beautiful buildings—and portraying the Gibson girl seemed pertinent. I think she adds a level of elegance to the piece.